The Senate Democratic leader now backs a Republican bill to fund the government.

A shutdown would give Donald Trump and Elon Musk a carte blanche to destroy vital government services.

We hear his case for a bill he hates.

I'm Stevenskeep with Leila Faville, and this is up first from NPR News.

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Bolandbranch.com with code NPR. Exclusion supply. See site for details. Federal agencies run out

of money at the end of today. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed a spending

bill earlier this week that would keep the government open. It funds the government through the end of

September with money mostly unchanged, except it raises defense spending and cuts money for the

District of Columbia, among other things. It's written in a way that may give President Trump more leeway to make

cuts of his own. Republicans need the votes from Democrats to get the bill through the Senate,

leaving Democrats with the choice to support this bill they hate or allow a government shutdown.

NPR congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh joins us now. Good morning. Good morning. Okay, so many Democrats had said they wouldn't vote yes on the spending bill to push back on these legally questionable government cuts. Is that still the case? Are they going to make good on that threat? Is there going to be a shutdown?

It does not look like we are heading towards a shutdown. Democrats are not happy with this bill at all. It was written without their input, but enough are expected to join with Republicans to pass it later today.

Since the House passed this bill largely along party lines on Tuesday,

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